South Bay Guitar Society upcoming events

SBGS Open Mic at Los Altos Library (7 Jul 2026)

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 01:30:00 GMT

Host: Chandra Rajagopal

Everyone is Welcome: Performers at any level from beginners to professionals are warmly encouraged. As we are a guitar society, only solo guitarists and ensembles that include at least one guitarist may play. FREE to play or attend. Please bring your own footstool and music stand if needed! Or, just sit in the audience and enjoy.

Acoustic Only: Finger-picking nylon-string styles. Guitar soloists and ensembles that include other instruments with guitar are welcome.

Maximum time per performer: 10 minutes

Playing order: To play, sign in when you arrive. Performance order is first-come first-served, though players under age 18 may go first.

Host Chandra Rajagopal

Based in Palo Alto, Chandra Rajagopal completed his studies in electrical engineering and classical guitar performance in 2010 from the University of Southern California. His musical adventures continue through composition, session guitar work, and various bands in Los Angeles and the South Bay. Chandra is also currently focused on introducing the guitar to his youngest student (his toddler) and is eager to make musical connections across the Bay Area.

Jack Cutter-Fingerstyle Guitarist in Concert (12 Jul 2026)

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 22:30:00 GMT

SBGS Virtual Open Mic (26 Jul 2026)

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT

VIRTUAL Open Mic Zoom Link

Performer Signup

Host: Sebastian Quintero

At the 10:00 a.m. Open Mic start, use the Zoom link to join. If you'd like to perform, fill out the "Performer Signup" form beforehand. Performance order is first-come first-served, although those under 18 can go first. The class will end after everyone has played and may conclude before 12 p.m.

Everyone is welcome: Performers of all levels from beginner to professional are warmly received and encouraged. As we are a guitar society, only solo guitarists and ensembles that include at least one guitarist may play.

Acoustic only: Finger-picking styles only. Soloists and ensembles of guitar and other instruments such as violin, flute and ukulele are welcome.

Maximum time per performer: 10 minutes

Setup recommendation for performers:

An external microphone such as a Zoom USB digital microphone is recommended for good sound quality. For example, the Zoom H1n works very well. If you don’t have one, the microphone in your computer or mobile device will be adequate.

We recommend that you install the latest version of Zoom. Go to the Zoom/Check for Updates menu item and run the update, or go to Download Zoom Update.

Finally, we recommend that you turn on Original Sound while you are performing and turn if off when not performing.

Contact: 408-915-SBGS

SBGS In-Person Open Mic (26 Jul 2026)

Sun, 26 Jul 2026 22:00:00 GMT

Host: Eugenia Teytelman

Everyone is Welcome: Performers at any level from beginners to professionals are warmly encouraged. As we are a guitar society, only solo guitarists and ensembles that include at least one guitarist may play. No charge to play or attend. Please bring your own footstool and music stand if needed! Or, just sit in the audience and enjoy.

Acoustic Only: Finger-picking nylon-string styles. Guitar soloists and ensembles that include other instruments with guitar are welcome.

Maximum time per performer: 10 minutes

Playing order: To play, sign in when you arrive. Performance order is first-come first-served, though players under age 18 may go first.

About the host

Local music teacher and performer Eugenia Teytelman grew up in Moscow, Russia, and started studying piano at age six before discovering the guitar at age 14. Since then, she has played both instruments and even made a short detour to study alto saxophone.

Eugenia has a B.A. degree in linguistics from Moscow State University and an M.A. from UC Berkeley. After working as a linguist and translator, Eugenia is back in school and pursuing her M.M. degree in guitar performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with David Tanenbaum.

Besides being half of Lady Fingers guitar duo, Eugenia teaches piano and classical guitar in San Jose, Calif.

Young Dae & Inja Kim Competition for Composers March 13, 2027 (8 Jan 2027)

Fri, 08 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT

YOUNG DAE AND INJA KIM COMPETITION FOR COMPOSERS

The South Bay Guitar Society invites composers to enter the Young Dae and Inja Kim Composition Competition. Participants should submit an original work for classical guitar quartet. Judges will select the winning entry to be awarded The winner will have his or her work performed at the 2027 Jerry Snyder GuitarFest on March 13-14, 2027, at Starting Arts Center, 99 Notre Dame Ave., in San Jose

-Entry fee $35

-Participants must live, work, or study in San Francisco or the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Merced, Napa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, or Stanislaus

-Open to composers of all ages

-Submission must be an original work that has not won any prize or been previously performed

-Submit a piece for classical guitar quartet in standard notation, two to three minutes in length and of an intermediate level of difficulty

-Email submissions as PDF file and MP3 audio recording of MIDI playback to fractaljosh@gmail.com

-Deadline January 8, 2027

Questions? Contact South Bay Guitar Society president Josh Friedman at fractaljosh@gmail.com

Junior Division Youth Competition (13 Mar 2027)

Sat, 13 Mar 2027 17:00:00 GMT

South Bay Guitar Society's Junior Division Youth Competition-March 13, 2027

Ages 13 and under. Participant must be born AFTER March 13, 2013. If you were born ON March 13, 2013, or prior, YOU'RE TOO OLD for the Junior division.)

Date: MORNING of Saturday March 13, 2027

Location: Starting Arts Center, 99 Notre Dame Ave., San Jose

Time limit: 5 minutes from the first note

Entry Fee: $25.00, payable at sbgs.org. Please note that your spot is not reserved until you've paid the entry fee.

Competition limited to the first 15 registrants. You can enter in only one age category. Previous first-place winners cannot re-enter in the same age category.

Apply here

Repertoire: One or more solo works from the classical guitar repertoire. Transcriptions and arrangements permitted; no concerto movements or cadenzas. All works to be performed from memory.

Performer must begin each selection at the beginning of the piece. Do NOT take repeats.

Performer must bring his/her own footstool or other guitar lift if needed. Performer must bring three photocopies of the sheet music for all works. Photocopies will not be returned to the performer and will be discarded by SBGS following the competition.

Scoring: Three judges will use the scoring rubric below. Total scores from each judge will be combined to rank the top three competitors. There will be no ties, honorable mention, or audience choice awards. Judges’ decisions are final.

The competition will be open to a public audience.

Results for the Junior Division will be announced during intermission of the Saturday ticketed concert, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at Starting Arts Center. All performers will receive judges' scores and comments via email after the event.

Awards:

First Prize - $500.00

Second Prize - $300.00

Third Prize - $100.00

The First Prize winner of the Junior Age Division will be invited to perform as a Prelude performer in SBGS's 2027-2028 season. If the First Prize winner is unable to perform, the opportunity will be offered to the Second Prize winner.

If the entry fee poses a financial hardship, please contact us at sbgs.secretary@gmail.com to request a fee waiver. No questions asked.

Please note that the performer must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Judges to be announced.

Questions? Contact us at sbgs.secretary@gmail.com

Senior Division Youth Competition (14 Mar 2027)

Sun, 14 Mar 2027 16:00:00 GMT

South Bay Guitar Society's Senior Division Youth Competition-March 14, 2027

Age 14 and older. Participant must be born on or after March 15, 2008 AND on or before March 14, 2013. If you were born on March 14, 2008, or before, YOU'RE TOO OLD for the Senior Division. If you were born on March 15, 2013, or after, YOU'RE TOO YOUNG for the Senior Division.

Date: MORNING of Sunday March 14, 2027

Location: Starting Arts Center, 99 Notre Dame Ave., San Jose

Time limit: 7 minutes from the first note

Entry Fee: $25.00, payable at sbgs.org. Please note that your spot is not reserved until you've paid the entry fee.

Competition limited to the first 15 registrants. You can enter in only one age category. Previous first-place winners cannot re-enter in the same age category.

Apply here

Repertoire: One or more solo works from the classical guitar repertoire. Transcriptions and arrangements permitted; no concerto movements or cadenzas. All works to be performed from memory.

Performer must begin each selection at the beginning of the piece. Do NOT take repeats.

Performer must bring his/her own footstool or other guitar lift if needed.

Performer must bring three photocopies of the sheet music for all works. Photocopies will not be returned to the performer and will be discarded by SBGS following the competition.

The competition will be open to a public audience.

Results for the Senior Division will be announced during intermission of the Saturday ticketed concert, which starts at 7:30 p.m. at Starting Arts Center. All performers will receive judges' scores and comments via email after the event.

Awards:

First Prize - $500.00

Second Prize - $300.00

Third Prize - $100.00

The First Prize winner of the Senior Division will be invited to perform as a Prelude performer in SBGS's 2027-2028 season. If the First Prize winner is unable to perform, the opportunity will be offered to the Second Prize winner.

If the entry fee poses a financial hardship, please contact us at sbgs.secretary@gmail.com to request a fee waiver. No questions asked.

Please note that the performer must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

Judges to be announced.

Questions? Contact us at sbgs.secretary@gmail.com